Putin Fires Defense Chief in Rare Move

MOSCOW—President Vladimir Putin fired his scandal-plagued defense minister and replaced him with a close loyalist on Tuesday in a rare Kremlin shake-up that analysts said could be a sign of infighting among factions of the Russian leadership.

Mr. Putin has rarely dismissed members of his inner circle since coming to power in 2000, preferring dignified departures. But investigators moved against the outgoing defense minister, Anatoly...